Viking builds world’s first large
LNG passenger ferry
When Finnish owner-operators STX Finland and
Viking Line sought a technical partner to help design
and classify a new ropax ship fuelled by LNG, they approached
Lloyd’s Register with its renowned expertise in LNG-as-a-fuel.
T
he result will be the world’s first large
cope with the comparatively sensitive and
was signed, we have also provided the STX
ferry to use liquid natural gas as its
shallow waters of the Finnish archipelago.
technical team with assistance on issues
main source of power. The 56,850 gt
“LNG tends to suit ferries better than
such as developing LNG storage facilities
ferry will be built at Finland’s STX Turku
other types of vessel as they follow fixed
shipyard, one of Europe’s largest and the
routes between ports with LNG terminals
“We carried out a detailed risk anal-
source of the world’s biggest cruise liners,
in the neighbourhood which makes them
ysis for Viking Line on the bunkering pro-
Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.
easy to bunker. The same bunkering facil-
cess to identify and minimise risks asso-
One of the options in the newbuild con-
ities aren’t yet available for other ships in-
ciated with the movement of the bunker
tract is for a sister LNG ferry to be built
cluding cruise ships,” said project manager
barge and ship within the confines of the
Matti Niskala, LR’s Finnish Marine Country
port, the risks associated with the simul-
Business Manager.
taneous loading of passengers, cars, lor-
The huge ferry which is due to be
delivered at the start of 2013 will be the
and process piping,” said Niskala.
world’s most environmentally-friendly pas-
However with the innovative ground-
ries and LNG, and to help ensure compat-
senger ship with minimal CO2 and virtually
work that is being a